(Patrick), a Scottish prelate, archbishop of St Andrews. He was born in the year 1543 in the town of Perth, where he received the rudiments of his education; and afterwards studied Philosophy, and took his degree of master of arts at the university of St Andrews. In the year 1566, he set out for Paris, as tutor to a young gentleman. In the month of June of the same year, Mary queen of Scots being delivered of a son, afterwards James VI. of Scotland and First of England, Mr Adamson wrote a Latin poem on the occasion. This proof of his loyalty involved him in some difficulties, having been confined in France for six months; nor would he have easily got off, had not Queen Mary, and some of the principal nobility, interested themselves in his behalf. As soon as he recovered his liberty, he retired with his pupil to Bourges. He was in this city during the massacre at Paris; and the same persecuting spirit prevailing among the catholics at Bourges as at the metropolis, he lived concealed for seven months in a public house, the master of which, upwards of 70 years of age, was thrown from the top thereof, and had his brains dashed out, for his charity to heretics. Whilst Mr Adamson lay thus in his sepulchre, as he called it, he wrote his Latin poetical version of the Book of Job, and his Tragedy of Herod in the same language. In the year 1573, he returned to Scotland; and, having entered into holy orders, became minister of Paisley. In the year 1575, he was appointed one of the commissioners, by the general assembly, to settle the jurisdiction and policy of the church; and the following year he was named, with Mr David Lindsay, to report their proceedings to the earl of Morton, then regent. About this time the earl made him one of his chaplains; and, on the death of bishop Douglas, promoted him to the archiepiscopal see of St Andrew's, a dignity which brought upon him great trouble and uneasiness: for now the clamour of the Presbyterian party rose very high against him, and many inconsistent absurd stories were propagated concerning him. Soon after his promotion, he published his catechism in Latin verse, a work highly approved even by his enemies; but, nevertheless, they still continued to persecute him with great violence. In 1578, he submitted himself to the general assembly, which procured him peace but for a very little time; for, the year following, they brought fresh accusations against him. In the year 1582, being attacked with a grievous disease, in which the physicians could give him no relief, he happened to take a simple medicine from an old woman, which did him service. The woman, whose name was Alizon Pearson, was thereupon charged with witchcraft, and committed to prison, but escaped out of her confinement; however, about four years afterwards, she was again found and burnt for a witch. In 1583, king James came to St Andrew's; and the archbishop, being much recovered, preached before him, and disputed with Mr Andrew Melvil, in presence of his Majesty, with great reputation, which drew upon him fresh calumny and persecution. The king, however, was so well pleased with him, that he sent him ambassador to Queen Elizabeth, at whose court he resided for some years. His conduct, during his embassy, has been variously reported by different authors. Two things he principally laboured, viz. the recommending the king his master to the nobility and gentry of England, and the procuring some support for the episcopal party in Scotland. By his eloquent preaching, he drew after him such crowds of people, and raised in their minds such a high idea of the young king his master, that queen Elizabeth forbade him to enter the pulpit during his stay in her dominions. In 1584, he was recalled, and sat in the parliament held in August at Edinburgh. The Presbyterian party was still very violent against the archbishop. A provincial synod was held at St Andrew's in April 1586: the archbishop was here accused and excommunicated: he appealed to the king and the estates, but this availed him little; for the mob being excited against him, he durst scarce appear in public. At the next general assembly, a paper being produced, containing the archbishop's submission, he was absolved from the excommunication. In 1588, fresh accusations were brought against him. The year following, he published the Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah in Latin verse; which he dedicated to the king, complaining of his hard usage. In the latter end of the same year, he published a translation of the Apocalypse, in Latin verse; and a copy of Latin verses, addressed also to his Majesty, when he was in great distress. The king, however, was so far from giving him affluence, that he granted the revenue of his fee to the duke of Lennox; so that the remaining part of this prelate's life was very wretched, he having hardly subsistence for his family. He died in 1591.